Latest news with #BillLeeper
Global News
13-05-2025
- Global News
Ontario students warned over ‘senior assassin' game after high school lockdown
After a lockdown was put in place at a high school and teens were arrested at gunpoint at the beginning of May, Guelph police are following in the footsteps of many police departments in the U.S. by issuing a warning to students about playing the 'senior assassin' game. 'The popular game known as 'Senior Assassin' involves high school students competing to eliminate fellow participants by shooting them with water guns or other projectiles within a specified time period,' police said in a release. The service then noted that the game is not just played during school hours but after hours as well. Guelph police said one of the main issues is that the weapons used in the game often look realistic, which creates concern for others in the community, including some who are playing the game, and police can be called in. Story continues below advertisement That is what happened on May 1, when a high school in Guelph was placed on lockdown briefly as officers responded after it was reported that teens with guns were inside a car outside the school. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The officers then arrested one of the boys at gunpoint, as well as two others. Police say the trio were warned for possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and will complete an educational diversion program through the John Howard Society rather than face charges. The incident in Guelph is not the only one police have been forced to deal with, as there have been several reported throughout the U.S. in recent months. In Texas, a high school senior fell out of the back of a Jeep last month while playing the game and hit his head. He remains in hospital on life support, according to CBS News. And in Florida in February, a police officer shot an 18-year-old in the arm after a group of young people were spotted lurking around a car in the dark, according to NewsNation affiliate WFLA. 'The homeowner was alerted,' Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said. 'There's some people in her driveway, so she did what most would do, go check it out. And unfortunately, one of the students has a water pistol, but it looks like a gun in the dark, you can't tell the difference.' Story continues below advertisement The officer, who was off-duty at the time, responded to the call and shot an 18-year-old in the arm. Police said he is expected to make a full recovery. Last year, there were also issues in Ontario's Halton Region, as police reported seven incidents in a one-week period in which residents reported seeing young people with firearms on school grounds and residential streets. Const. Ryan Anderson told Global News the assassin game had escalated across the area, and had led to a couple of teens being charged in Georgetown. 'This year we're seeing a lot of guns that look like Glock-style handguns, and obviously members of our public are concerned when they're seeing this,' Anderson said.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
23 adults arrested in multi-stage Nassau County operation targeting child sexual predators
The Nassau County Sheriff's Office announced the completion of a multi-phase operation targeting people who attempted to commit sexual crimes against who they believed to be children. 'I couldn't believe how many grown men wanted to have sex with what they thought was a 13- or 14-year-old child,' exclaimed Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. 'Telling the child nasty things, they wanted to do, and what perverted things they were going to do to the child. It was really disgusting.' On January 15th of this year, several law enforcement agencies teamed up in what they called 'Special Operation Deviant Nightfall.' According to the Nassau County Sheriff's office, the four-day operation involved undercover detectives posing as children online, then intercepting suspects who attempted to arrange sexual encounters with them. In just four days, sixteen individuals were arrested. At the time, we were aware of ten, including one who Action News Jax discovered to be a Clay County elected official. Harrison 'Ted' Clark later resigned from his position. 'These aren't typical criminals, but what they are doing they are lurking online, searching, and grooming children online to engage with them in sexual conduct,' said Sheriff Leeper. A follow-up phase, called 'Deviant Sunrise,' resulted in seven more arrests over the subsequent two months, expanding the operation's reach across multiple counties. Sheriff Bill Leeper has this message for anyone looking to prey on children for sex. 'If you've been talking nasty, sending filthy pictures to what you thought was a child, we are after you.' The Sheriff revealed that they currently have more suspected predators they are trying to arrest. Watch the announcement of these arrests below: You can read the full press release from the Nassau County Sheriff's Office below: [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
WATCH: Florida deputies, good Samaritan save man clinging to anchor line after falling overboard
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)— A man fell overboard and spent nearly an hour hanging onto an anchor before being rescued by the Nassau County Sheriff's Office and a good Samaritan. On March 13 around 4:21 p.m., dispatch alerted the marine unit of a person in distress in the Cumberland Sound near the St. Mary's Entrance channel. Deputies arrived to find a 1996 Sea Pro center console with a person who had reported that his friend fell overboard when he was trying to raise the anchor, NCSO said. The man who fell overboard was wearing a life jacket and had been clinging to the anchor line for about 45 minutes in 64-degree water. NCSO said he was showing signs of severe exhaustion and hypothermia. Florida Attorney General's team investigates price gouging amid hurricane season Trump safe after what FBI describes as apparent assassination attempt Mega Millions $800 million jackpot won; $1 million winner in Florida Deputies from the NCSO and the Camden County Sheriff's Office coordinated a rescue and with the help of a good Samaritan. The man was successfully pulled back about the boat. 'This incident highlights the critical importance of wearing proper safety equipment while boating,' said Sheriff Bill Leeper. 'The life jacket this individual was wearing no doubt saved his life.' The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention and is reported to be in stable condition. NCSO reminds boaters to always wear a properly fitted life jacket, check weather and water conditions, carry proper safety equipment, and file a float plan with someone on shore. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
11-year-old arrested, accused of making threat toward Hilliard Elementary, NCSO says
An 11-year-old is facing two felony charges after deputies say he made a threat against a school. The Nassau County Sheriff's Office said the child left a voicemail on Hilliard Elementary School's phone on Tuesday, saying he was going to kill them the next day. School officials were not made aware of the threat until Wednesday morning, NCSO said. Detectives traced the phone number to talk to a family member and then arrested the child. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'Parents please talk to your child if you don't want to see their mugshot on the news,' Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said in a statement. 'We take every threat against our schools seriously, regardless of the age of the individual making the threat. The safety of our students and school staff remains our highest priority, and we will continue to respond swiftly and decisively to any threats. This should serve as a reminder that such actions have serious consequences.' Action News Jax is choosing not to name the child because of his age. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
High school 'Senior Assassin' game leaves student shot as parents warned of deadly trend
Police are warning parents of a "potentially deadly situation" after a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agent mistakenly shot a high school football player while the student was playing the popular "Senior Assassin" game. The off-duty FDLE agent encountered three individuals "prowling" outside the agent's Nassau County home early Wednesday morning, in what was actually a game of "Senior Assassin," authorities said in a release. The game consists of teams using toy guns to "shoot" each other to eliminate players until the remaining team wins. The agent mistook the teens for home invaders and shot the 18-year-old student in the arm. Police Departments Warn High Schoolers' 'Senior Assassins' Game Could Turn Deadly: 'Serious Consequences' "These types of games may seem innocent, but when you have young people sneaking around in the dark wearing masks and carrying objects that could be mistaken for weapons, you're creating a potentially deadly situation," Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper said during a press conference. Read On The Fox News App The teen was taken to University of Florida Health with non-life-threatening injuries and is scheduled to undergo surgery for a broken arm. FDLE, Nassau County Sheriff's Office and the Office of the State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit are conducting an internal investigation regarding the incident. Authorities across the country are now issuing a warning to parents about the dangers that come from playing these types of games. Trending 'Senior Assassin' Tiktok Game 'Could Get Someone Hurt Or Killed', Police Say The game is rapidly gaining popularity among high school students across northern Florida and throughout the country, according to State Attorney Melissa Nelson. Law enforcement officers have tied the game to incidents such as reckless driving and trespassing on private property, and are asking parents and elected officials to discourage kids from playing. "We ask for your help in shutting the game down," Nelson said in a press conference on Thursday. Players carry fake guns – such as water pistols – while concealing their identities and running through areas and hiding in obscure places. Authorities stress that the very nature of the game can result in tragedy and warn that players risk criminal charges. Bodycam Footage Shows Moment Florida Officers' Attempt To Restrain Suspect Goes Horribly Wrong "Across the country, there have been tragedies and near-tragedies that have occurred as a result," Nelson said. "In one instance, a teen player was paralyzed when the father of a [player] shot him, mistaking the game for a criminal assault." In 2024, a group of high school students walked into an Illinois restaurant carrying water pistols disguised as firearms and wearing ski masks, seeking out fellow teenagers involved in the game, according to police. A restaurant patron carrying a concealed weapon mistook the students for a legitimate threat, but no one was harmed. "[We] would like to emphasize that the depiction of firearms, whether real or imitation, in any public setting, is a matter of concern and may instill fear among the public," the Gurnee Police Department said in a statement. "We urge community members to reconsider their participation in such activities and recognize the seriousness of their actions." Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters told Fox News Digital that he hopes that parents bridge the gap and speak to their children about this issue – and the dangers of the so-called "game." "The teenage mindset is that it will never happen to me. I'll be just fine. I can play this game; nothing is ever going to happen to me. Unfortunately, we saw what happened in Nassau County yesterday. We do not want young people NOT to have fun. That is not our goal here. The goal is to make sure everyone is safe," he said. "We would ask that you seriously re-evaluate what you're doing and find another way to have fun." The Nassau County Sheriff's Office referred Fox News Digital to their initial release on the article source: High school 'Senior Assassin' game leaves student shot as parents warned of deadly trend
